- Paladin: With this gun, I could have stopped murder tonight. But I've taken it off. That's my present to you. In all my life I've only seen a dozen real killers, but I've seen ten thousand people that would stand by and let it happen. Which is the greater evil?
- Nathaniel Beecher: [At the Christmas Eve service] All right. If there's one strand of fence down, if one calf wanders off tonight, we work double tomorrow.
- Paladin: You're a curious mixture, Beecher. Tears in your eyes, bruises on your knuckles, a rope for Indians, misery for your employees, and a full heart for a boy. Who, which one is really Nathaniel Beecher?
- Nathaniel Beecher: The one that's paying you to talk Pawnee.
- Cah-la-te: Rifles no can kill men now dead. Grey Wolf driven from land. No game. Winter come. No warmth. He walk. He call to moon. But he is now dead.
- Paladin: All my life, I've only seen a dozen real killers, but I've seen ten thousand people who would stand by and let it happen. Which is the greater offence?
- Paladin: I've come eleven hundred miles. Our agreement included travel expenses and common courtesy would include a tub of water and a bed.
- Nathaniel Beecher: This isn't a trail station.
- Paladin: One hundred dollars will cover the expenses.
- Nathaniel Beecher: Put him off the ranch. PUT HIM OFF THE RANCH!
- Paladin: I'll cut out three head from your range herd. I think you'll find that approximates what you owe me.
- Nathaniel Beecher: Touch a head of my stock, I'll hang you.
- Tater: Nathaniel, ain't that the fellow that talks Indian? Like his telegramme said? You've been wanting to talk to the boy.
- Nathaniel Beecher: You talk Pawnee?
- Paladin: I do. Ordinarily I'd interpret for nothing. For you, the fee is one hundred dollars a day.